Ekaterina Barabash escapes Moscow house arrest amid persecution of journalists

In a dramatic turn of events, Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash, who had been under house arrest in Moscow, resurfaced in Paris after a perilous escape that began weeks prior. Barabash, 63, had been facing serious legal charges, including a potential 10-year prison sentence for social media posts that condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Her situation highlights the dire circumstances faced by journalists in Russia, especially following the strict laws introduced in March 2022 that drastically curtailed press freedom. After being arrested on her return from the Berlinale film festival in February, Barabash embarked on a dangerous journey to flee her oppressors. Coordinated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), her escape involved crossing multiple borders and spending two weeks in hiding before arriving in France on April 26, coincidentally her birthday. The RSF's Director General Thibaut Bruttin described the operation as one of their most dangerous yet, emphasizing that at one point it was feared Barabash might have perished during her flight. Throughout her ordeal, she condemned the totalitarian environment in Russia that makes the concept of Russian journalism almost non-existent. In her view, being a journalist under such oppressive conditions is untenable, as evidenced by the exodus of over 90 media outlets that have fled Russia since the conflict began. At the press conference following her arrival in Paris, Barabash shared her thoughts on the situation: “If you want to be a journalist, you have to live in exile,” stressing the impossibility of independent journalism in her home country during these tumultuous times. Targeted simply for expressing dissenting opinions, Barabash's struggle is emblematic of a broader trend affecting numerous journalists in Russia. Currently, at least 38 journalists remain imprisoned, and RSF reports that independent journalism has essentially ceased to exist within Russian borders. Despite her difficult past, Barabash expressed optimism about her future in exile, hoping to continue her work with Russian-language media aimed at audiences outside of her home country. Her brave venture underscores the growing risk faced by those daring to uphold journalistic integrity amidst an increasingly hostile regime.